The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-18

years. Now and then when abe could
find come one to write for her once In six
years, perhaps, she would send q letter to
her mother. 1t always told the same sto.
ry. She was working hard and saving
well. When she had enough to buy a
little house, q COW, a goat and q pair OF
cans to carry milk about in, she would
come homo 10 live with her mother.
Yesr after year passed by, and still this
WAC only In the future. Bettina found 1t
hard work 10 earn black bread by such
work as she could 10, aud It was only to
charity that she owed the bit OF cheese or
glass Of milk that now and then fell 10 her
Hhare.
Poor IS she was, abe WAS proud, and 1t
was very hard for her to bear such humil.
iation. Besides, In winter she suffered
misersbly from cold and living alone and
dressing tn rags, and being a crooked old
creature, the children after a while began
to- call her a witch, and to run away
screaming when she came, leaning on hor
long stick md talking 10 herself, along the
mountain pathways.
Abuse and misery make no one better
nstured. Old Betttna grew 60 sour and
ill-humored that those who gave her work
to do dreaded to see her coming. BY do.
grees her patrons turned their backs upon
her, and but for the good old clergyman
she would have starved to death. He,
when he gave aims, g6vo also good coun-
sel, and strovs to lead her thoughts heaven.
ward but Bsttina did not heed him. She
| pnIyJA bno fnthyrn - In Sharl.f,I N to- 80
earth, and ahe ssid to herself, even some-
times to her pastor.
ut 10 very well to preach. Money is
all. IfI-had money like tho lady Of the
great house yonder, l should sit in my
white cap and lowered dress, while my
friends brought me bouquets on Smy iete
day. AS 1t ia, because I have no money
they nickname ME a witch and turn their
bacss on me, these people; and my only
daughter, Lima Cozsns mo with lying
promises, and stays where she can enjoy
herseli. No, when I have money l shall
begin to pray"
Then she would nod her head wrath
fully and 20 on her way, and, II she did
not pray ehe know how to curse very
heartily. Courses come home to roost," as
We all know. Certainly Bettiua's did.
Money, money, mouey-that was her
prayer. She hated those who had it or
who wore fine clothes and ornaments.
She often stood at the turn Of tho road
when the peasant women Qocked away to
the town. 10 keep somo holiday, and shook
her fist after them because they wore
bright petticoata and haEdkerchiafs and
big riDgG OF gold and eilver in their ears,
while ahe wore rags, and alone she ussd
to eitand mutter to herself in a woeiul
fashion.
"Has it come to this, Bsttina ? Thou, SO
pretty and young once upon q day thon,
who hadst earrings and gay 'keIchiefa
with the hes? r Has it come to this, and
they 30 gayPI could kill them ALI kill
them kill them the proud wretches r.
and her eyes blazed asthough she meant it.
Then came the hardest winter Of all.
The tenth since her daughter left her. No
letter cRme all that while. Hsd Bettine
been a civil peraon she could hGvo lived
in the pastors kitchen, but no other ser-
want could brook her tongue. When
spring came. although, thanks to charity,
she had not starved, 4Bettina was in O
worae mood than ususl, and she sat at her
door II the dusk muttering to- herself,
when che sspied G woman coming up the
mountain road. She was a tall, large wo.
man OF thirty. Her drees wgs very gay,
and ghe wore rings in her ears and q neck
lace about her throat. Over her shoulder
she carried s pack, fastened by leather
straps, and her face was broad and bright
and smiling.
She nodded to Bettina, and called out:
"Good evening"
:. bad Il evening sss ? i you will" said Bet. Bet.
lit 10 very bright, though" said tho
woman.
What is that to a poor creature like
me" said Bettina.
Shs did not bid the woman sit down,
but she did 80, and thon unfasted her pack
and laid it beaidA her.
"Have you no Children to take care oil
you, good neighbor p she asked.
= have an ungrateful daughter some.
where" said the old woman, ""but che
carea nothing about me. ell
"Shame on her then" said the woman,
look yon, good woman, I have a mother
an going to her. In that pack sre'twc
striped petticosts for her, and linen
chemises Tor her also, and a pair Of silver
earrings and handkerchief. You should
sec, they are so gay and'there Is silver
and she named aIum equal to about tive
hundred dollars; "AlE that is Tor my
poor old mother wheny1 find her. Sc
your daughter will come back come day.
mot she" said the old woman. "Ant
Why doIyou come to brsg about you
fnery? Take up your pack and go.""
G"Nay, let me stay all night" said til,
woman. I'm foot-sore. / can't 80 fur
ther without rest. I'll pay You well
Let me stay? don't want food-onl,
lodging"
The old woman hesitatcd, but none,
YVES valnableto her, even a few email coin
I would be precious. She gave Sgrudgin
permission to- the woman to stay, an,
helped her carry in the pack. I
zig all that money in tho pack 7" eh
asked as she did 40.
ut is all there" said tho woman, cam
every. Groshen my own earnings" An
she Hooked kindly at the oil ,womsn.
J She, however, only irowned In return
She eat down on a low stool and stared q
the pack; There was q fortune mi
according to her view Of money, and al
awful greed possessed her. Thoughts to
terrible for words filed her mind. The,
came In this way at first.
IF this woman would only die now
No n would know she had ever beel
here. I would drag her body to the %ol,
bridge and throw it over, and the none,
would ba mine.n
II wss eatan who Whispered. His nex
whieper was this: !;
why should she not die here
"She shall.p
Meanwhile tho pleasant, smiling womal
: sat IN the door, looking out. j
HHow pleasant it looks here che said
~ have seen pictures in tho houses wheY
have lived at service Of places not 6
\ pretty as this. "3s4
"Artist gentlemen come here to pain
very often, said the old women. S"Bu
from the hridge-ynu shnnld sea II fror